Add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object

You can specify alternative text for shapes, pictures, charts, SmartArt graphics, or other objects in your 2007 Microsoft Office system document. If you save your 2007 Microsoft Office system document to an HTML file format such as .htm or .html, or you use a screen reader, alternative text appears when you move the pointer over a picture. Alternative text helps people with screen readers understand the content of pictures.

This article discusses adding alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object. If you're trying to add text to a picture, see Add text on top of a photo. If you're trying to make text go around a picture in a document, see Wrap text.

Which 2007 Microsoft Office system program are you using?

Excel

Right-click the shape, picture, chart, border of the SmartArt graphic, or other object, and then click Size and Properties.

Click the Alt Text tab, and then in the Alternative text box, enter your text.

Tip: If you frequently add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, you can add the Alt text command to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to it. You can find the Alt text command in the Commands Not in the Ribbon category when you add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you access the Alt text command from the Quick Access Toolbar, you still need to click the Alt Text tab to add your alternative text, as in step 2 above.

Note: The Ribbon is a part of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface

Outlook

Right-click the shape, picture, chart, border of the SmartArt graphic, or other object, and then click Size.

Click the Alt Text tab, and then in the Alternative text box, enter your text.

Tip: If you frequently add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, you can add the Alt text command to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to it. You can find the Alt text command in the Commands Not in the Ribbon category when you add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you access the Alt text command from the Quick Access Toolbar, you still need to click the Alt Text tab to add your alternative text, as in step 2 above.

Note: The Ribbon is a part of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface

PowerPoint

Right-click the shape, picture, chart, border of the SmartArt graphic, or other object, and then click Size and Position.

Click the Alt Text tab, and then in the Alternative text box, enter your text.

Tip: If you frequently add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, you can add the Alt text command to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to it. You can find the Alt text command in the Commands Not in the Ribbon category when you add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you access the Alt text command from the Quick Access Toolbar, you still need to click the Alt Text tab to add your alternative text, as in step 2 above.

Note: The Ribbon is a part of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface

Word

Right-click the shape, picture, chart, border of the SmartArt graphic, or other object, and then click Size.

Click the Alt Text tab, and then in the Alternative text box, enter your text.

Tip: If you frequently add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object, you can add the Alt text command to the Quick Access Toolbar to create a shortcut to it. You can find the Alt text command in the Commands Not in the Ribbon category when you add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you access the Alt text command from the Quick Access Toolbar, you still need to click the Alt Text tab to add your alternative text, as in step 2 above.

Note: The Ribbon is a part of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface